Influence of 1.8-GHz (GSM) radiofrequency radiation (RFR) on DNA damage and repair induced by X-rays in human leukocytes in vitro.
Zhijian C, Xiaoxue L, Yezhen L, Deqiang L, Shijie C, Lifen J, Jianlin L, Jiliang H. · 2009
View Original AbstractCell phone radiation at European safety limits did not impair DNA repair in human immune cells, suggesting current exposure levels may not compromise cellular recovery mechanisms.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed human white blood cells to cell phone radiation at safety limits for 24 hours, then tested DNA repair after X-ray damage. The radiation didn't cause DNA damage or interfere with natural repair processes, suggesting current safety limits may not impair cellular DNA repair.
Why This Matters
This study addresses a critical question in EMF research: whether radiofrequency radiation interferes with our cells' ability to repair DNA damage from other sources. The researchers used the current European SAR limit of 2 W/kg, which is actually higher than typical phone usage (most phones emit 0.5-1.5 W/kg during calls). While the finding that RF radiation didn't impair DNA repair is reassuring, we should note this was an isolated laboratory study using intermittent exposure over 24 hours. The reality is that real-world exposure patterns are far more complex, involving continuous low-level radiation from multiple sources over years or decades. What this means for you: while this particular study found no interference with DNA repair at safety-limit exposures, it represents just one piece of a much larger puzzle about long-term cellular effects.
Exposure Details
- SAR
- 2 W/kg
- Source/Device
- 1.8-GHz
- Exposure Duration
- 24 h (fields on for 5 min, fields off for 10 min)
Exposure Context
This study used 2 W/kg for SAR (device absorption):
- 5x above the Building Biology guideline of 0.4 W/kg
Building Biology guidelines are practitioner-based limits from real-world assessments. BioInitiative Report recommendations are based on peer-reviewed science. Check Your Exposure to compare your own measurements.
Where This Falls on the Concern Scale
Study Details
In the present study, the in vitro comet assay was used to determine whether 1.8-GHz radiofrequency radiation (RFR) can influence DNA repair in human leukocytes exposed to X-rays.
The specific energy absorption rate (SAR) of 2 W/kg (the current European safety limit) was applied....
DNA damage to human leukocytes was detected using the comet assay at 0, 15, 45, 90, 150 and 240 min ...
The results demonstrated that (1) the DNA repair speeds of human leukocytes after X-ray exposure exhibited individual differences among the four donors; (2) the intermittent exposures of 1.8-GHz RFR at the SAR of 2 W/kg for 24 h did not directly induce DNA damage or exhibit synergistic effects with X-rays on human leukocytes.
Show BibTeX
@article{c_2009_influence_of_18ghz_gsm_1471,
author = {Zhijian C and Xiaoxue L and Yezhen L and Deqiang L and Shijie C and Lifen J and Jianlin L and Jiliang H.},
title = {Influence of 1.8-GHz (GSM) radiofrequency radiation (RFR) on DNA damage and repair induced by X-rays in human leukocytes in vitro.},
year = {2009},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19501185/},
}